key: cord-0812921-1zqq20w1
authors: Agarwal, Sachin; Saxena, Dinesh K.; Boyina, Rupini
title: Analysis of Air Pollutants in Covid 19 Pandemic Lockdown- A case study of Bareilly, UP, India
date: 2021-03-30
journal: nan
DOI: 10.1016/j.crgsc.2021.100087
sha: 72fe9d52ea1c5e702a12bee41d618ccdfc0ede9f
doc_id: 812921
cord_uid: 1zqq20w1

The contemporary world is dealing with the rise of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Globally, as on 14 September 2020, there have been 28,918,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 922,252 deaths, reported to WHO with the cases still on the rise. In India, as a preventive measure, complete lockdown was imposed all over the country from 25th March, 2020 which has significantly reduced the vehicular movement. Bareilly was reported among the seven most air polluted cities of Uttar Pradesh where PM10 was almost four times the annual standard of 60 μg/m3 averaging 226 μg/m3 for the year 2015 and 2016.The city Bareilly of State Uttar Pradesh do not have too much of industries and therefore industries cannot be blamed. Alternatively, vehicular or construction emission sources could not be ruled out and it can be concluded that primary sources of air pollution could be either automobiles or incomplete construction work. The present study is focused on monitoring of air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, at Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh and analyzed during the lockdown period due to pandemic COVID 19 from three monitoring stations. In the first week of lockdown, i.e. from 25th March 2020 to 31st March 2020 the PM10 and PM2.5 concentration averaged 60μg/m3 and 47 μg/m3 respectively which is below the NAAQS average limits of 80μg/m3 and 60μg/m3 respectively. Whereas the concentrations of gaseous pollutants SO2 and NO2 was found to be much below the monthly NAAQS limits of 60 μg/m3 averaging 21μg/m3 and 15μg/m3 respectively. In April 2020, the vehicular movement was minimum and the level of air pollutants, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, were found to be 54μg/m3, 41μg/m3, 19μg/m3 and 14μg/m3 respectively which is minimum in the six months of study from January 2020 to June 2020 and lowest in comparison to the air quality data of last 25 years.It can therefore be concluded that vehicular emissions contribute significantly for air pollution in Bareilly city.

Air Pollution is one of the burning issues in the world particularly in the urban areas of developing countries.The major sources of air pollutants are due to rapid growth of population, huge construction sites, increase in number of vehicles and industries [WHO,2018] . Air pollutants get added in the atmosphere from different sources that change the composition of atmosphere and affect the biotic environment [CPCB,2003] . In India emissions from vehicles, industries, domestic and natural sources contribute significantly towards air pollution [www.cpcb.nic.in]. These air pollutants may pose harmful effect on human health such as cardio-vascular and respiratory disease, neurological impairments, increased risk of preterm birth and even mortality and morbidity.

The rapid urban growth is also associated with transportation sector and road networks which support various vehicular movements on roads [1] . It has been reported that 17 % and 28 % of total NO 2 and PM concentration, respectively, are contributed by vehicular emissions, which was almost equal to the combined sources such as industry, power plants and domestic sectors in Delhi, India [2] . However, over the last two decades petrol and diesel consumption have grown by 400 % and 300 %, respectively, which was mainly due to rise of vehicular numbers, DG sets, industries and waste incinerators [3 ,4] . The heavy traffic, thickly populated areas, jams, poor driving patterns, improper town planning and congested and encroached roads have severe impact on the environment in urban areas [5, 6, 7, 8, 9] . Emission due to vehicular exhaust is associated with a number of chronic and acute health effects [10, 11] . The research studies show that chronic health ailments like cancers, heart attacks and asthma associated with NO x , SO 2 and PM emissions from J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f vehicular exhaust [12, 13] . In urban areas, air pollution is affected mainly due to construction of buildings, traffic composition and meteorological conditions [14] . It has been found and reported that around ten million people from India [15] lose their lives every year due to air pollution. Several reports document the relationship between PM 2.5 and cardiovascular disease. Gold et al. [16] demonstrated a significant increase in cardiovascular disease, from 0.5% to 1.5%, for every 5~6 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 . Further, they showed a 69% increase in cardiovascular deaths after acute exposure to particulate air pollution. The most vulnerable senior citizen population are most affected from pulmonary diseases due to emission of pollutant. To understand the chaotic situation and timely action and preparedness to face this sudden health disaster exhaustive monitoring, analysis and remedial steps are needed. CPCB, India and media reported that Bareilly was highly polluted and the third most polluted city in UP. Lack of congenial mass transportation in Bareilly city compels people to use their own transport. As a result, more combustion of fossil fuel takes place leading to high level of pollutants. The traffic congestion due to narrow roads worsens the situation.

Less popularity of ecofriendly vehicles in Bareilly city and large number of two and four-wheeler vehicles are equally responsible in increasing PM2.5. In addition, the construction industry 

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Acknowledgement: Technical support from Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, The Department of Botany, Bareilly College, Bareilly and UPPCB, Bareilly is gratefully acknowledged.

J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f 

☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.☒The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:I agree above terms and conditions of the journal J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f